Who knew 17 years could go so fast? By the time it takes to send a kid to college, I’ve been toiling, mostly joyfully, at the Chronicle and SFGate.com. I am headed to KNBR 680-AM, where I will also be making radio appearances and occasionally filling in as a co-host and continuing as part of …

The 49ers have announced the signing of 12 undrafted free agents. Among the most intriguing names are defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye and offensive tackle Luke Marquardt, hulking athletes whose football experience ranges from none (Okoye) to little (Marquardt). …

A third-round pick of the 49ers in 2005, Snyder, 31, was cut by Arizona after he signed a five-year, $17 million contract in 2012. According to the grading system used by Pro Football Focus, Snyder ranked 79th among 82 guards who played at least 300 snaps last year. Snyder signed a two-year contract with San Francisco. …

The compensation the 49ers have received for Smith: Florida State defensive end Tank Carradine, the 2014 second- or third-round selection, a 2014 third-round pick and a 2013 seventh-round pick, which they traded. …

As a jack-of-all trades Louisiana-based football analyst, Mike Detellier saw Eric Reid play at Dutchtown High near Baton Rouge, attended each of his 39 games at LSU and dissected his college film with an eye on how the safety’s skills would translate to the NFL. His assessment of the 49ers’ first-round pick? …

Why didn’t the 49ers draft Stanford’s Zach Ertz? If they saw this year’s tight end class through the same lens as Gil Brandt, it’s because they viewed Rice’s Vance McDonald as the second-best tight end behind Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert. …